<p>Sarasota police have made their first arrest under the city's new panhandling ordinance. </p><p>Jason Babb, 28, was arrested about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 1700 block of North Washington Boulevard.</p><p>This is Babb's 31st arrest for panhandling or soliciting funds.</p><p>Officers were dispatched to the area to investigate the report of a suspicious person soliciting money from passing vehicles.</p><p>They immediately recognized Babb, and saw him accept something from a Chevy Malibu that was stopped in the southbound left-turn lane.</p><p>Babb had been warned three times that he would be arrested if he did not stop: once the day before and twice on Tuesday, reports said.</p><p>Police asked him why he continued to solicit funds after three warnings, and he reportedly told them he had “nothing else to do.” </p><p>The new ordinance, which went into effect Monday, prohibits transactions — like panhandling — between pedestrians and people in cars, because it is a safety issue.</p><p>The American Civil Liberties Union has questioned the constitutionality of the new rule, saying it is overbroad and will result in discriminatory enforcement. </p><p>City officials believe the ordinance — similar to St. Petersburg's measure — will withstand a legal challenge. </p><p>After his arrest, officers seized Babb's cardboard sign, which read “God Bless,” and placed it into evidence.</p><p>He remains in jail on $25 bail awaiting trial.</p>